Joe Cannata Is "Ruby Strong"

A version of the following story appeared in the 2017-18 fourth edition of AVALANCHE, the official game magazine of the Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club. For more feature stories, purchase a copy of the magazine during Avs home games at Pepsi Center. All proceeds from game-magazine sales support youth hockey associations in Colorado.
Joe Cannata has had plenty of goalie masks throughout his career, but the one he is currently wearing has extra significance.
The Colorado Avalanche goaltending prospect hasn't done anything fancy in the past with his headwear, usually keeping it simple with team logos and regional flair. This season, the Wakefield, Massachusetts, native decided to do something different.

Cannata has known his girlfriend for nearly his entire life, and along the way he has developed strong relationships with her family and 3-year-old niece, Ruby.
"She had a bond with me from the very beginning," Cannata said of Ruby. "We always joke about it, but she is calling me Uncle Joe-Joe now."
Last summer, Ruby was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a form of childhood cancer that develops on nerve cells.
Ruby's family and friends have done several different fundraisers to help pay for her medical bills, including creating lavender "Team Ruby" bracelets. Cannata constantly wears one and did as much as he could to help the family last offseason.
After re-signing with the Avalanche organization in July, Cannata started to work with a designer to make his goalie mask unique for the 2017-18 campaign. He still wanted the team flair--with the Avalanche 'C' logo and mountains prominent on top in the silver and black colors of the San Antonio Rampage--but he also wanted something to honor and remind him of Ruby.

"Every year, you're looking for something significant to put on your mask, and in year's past mine have been pretty basic," Cannata said. "I figured there is no better time than now to put her face on it and remind me that there is more to life than hockey, and to give me some inspiration throughout the year and that I'm thinking of her."
A sketch of Ruby's face dons one side of the mask, while the other features a gold ribbon in support of pediatric cancer. There are also the words "Ruby Strong" written on each side.
"I'm thrilled with the way it came out. This is by far my favorite so far," Cannata said of his face protector.
"There is no tougher battle than what she is going through. We're fortunate enough to play the sport we love, so to see her face every day, it gives me inspiration to go out there and work as hard as I can. I know she is, and she is fighting for her life."

Prior to leaving for the start of the season, Cannata visited Ruby in the hospital and showed her the mask for the first time.
"She was cute and put it on and was running around the room with it," he said. "She's a great sport and just a great kid all around."
Ruby has been getting treatment and is doing better. She is presently cancer free and is now in the latter stages of her recovery.
"Once this is all said and done, and she beats this, we'll be able to look back on it and have some great memories," he said.
The mask spurred Cannata's play during a campaign that saw him split time in the American Hockey League with the Rampage and in the ECHL with the Colorado Eagles. He had a 3-0-1 record, 1.84 goals-against average and .920 save percentage in five AHL contests and ended up being one of the best goalies in the ECHL. Cannata finished his regular season with the Eagles by sporting a 21-5-2 mark, 2.22 goals-against average and .931 save percentage, and he is currently helping the club during its playoff run.
His strength in net though is nothing compared to that of Ruby's.
That's Ruby Strong.